Ensuring care for your loved is properly funded throughout the COVID-19 crisis
15,000 people were discharged out of hospital in March 2020 under Government powers, many of whom will be elderly or have dementia and will not be able to go home and will require care.
The Government estimates 5 per cent of people in this position may have dementia and yet research suggest it is nearer 28 per cent of people going into care have dementia.
It is now emerging that nobody discharged had a Covid 19 test.
People are likely to have many questions during these uncertain times.
Will my loved one currently receiving care via the NHS be moved to a home?
How will this care be funded?
Will I have to sell my home?
Will patients need to undergo a Continuing Health Care assessment?
What impact will this have on my relative who is already in the social care system?
To deal with the complexities of care and its funding during this tough period, the Government implemented emergency powers.
For immediate assistance please call us now on 0203 653 0623 or complete a Free Online Enquiry and we will be delighted to help you.
Continuing Health Care Assessments
The Coronavirus Act will allow local authorities to delay the undertaking of NHS Continuing Assessments after hospital discharge to ensure that patients can be moved directly to care homes.
The assessment, which would normally determine whether a person pays for their own care and what care they may need, will then be undertaken at a later date.
This means no Continuing Health Care assessments, but also means no fees to pay until assessments are resumed.
The legislation offers no assurances that people who fund their own care will not be asked to repay back money at some future date.
Funding
The Government has agreed the NHS will fully fund the cost of new or extended out of-hospital health and social care support packages.
This applies for people being discharged from hospital or would otherwise be admitted into it, for a limited time, to enable quick and safe discharge and more generally reduce pressure on acute services.
The Act will also terminate local authorities’ obligation for meeting needs and will terminate the duty to charge to meet needs for everyone!
Regardless of whether the duty pre-existed the Act and whether or not the person is already making a financial contribution, they may be able to access social care for free.
The Danger Period
The Act discharged thousands of people from hospital from 27th March 2020, many not medically fit to be discharged and none tested for COVID.
Anyone being discharged from hospital could be at risk of losing their home if they are unable to access Continuing Health Care funding.
As things stand, it is unclear how quickly local authorities will disregard the need to conduct assessments, which may mean that people fall through the gaps.
Here to Help
The current situation around care assessment and funding is rapidly changing and a little uncertain at the moment due to the nature of this Act.
Some councils may implement these changes sooner than others, which may create a postcode lottery for care, which is why it is essential to seek specialist professional advice.
Call The Care Fees Specialists Now
Steene Law specialise in Care Home Fees, especially protecting you from having to sell a property to pay for care home fees.
Please do not delay, please call us now 0203 653 0623, email reception@steenelaw.co.uk or complete a Free Online Enquiry and we will be delighted to help you.
We are available from 8am to 7pm, 365 days of the year.